Preparation of Ni-Al Intermetallics Bonded TiC Porous Cermets by SHS Method

Porous cermets composites were prepared from mixed powders (Ni, Al, Ti and C) by SHS (Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis) method. When Ni-Al intermetallics bonded TiC porous cermets substitute for TiC ceramic as perform in the process of manufacturing Ni-Al/TiC composites by pressureless melt infiltration, the wetting of the ceramic material and Ni-Al intermetallics can be improved. In this study, the microstructure and mechanical properties (density and compressive resistance strength) were reported. It is learnt from the study that the relation between the open porosity and the pore size does not exist, the former depends on the green density, and the latter depends on the particle size of the nickel powder. The porous cermets with porosity ranging from 40% to 50%, pore size from 1μm to 300μm, and the compressive resistance strength about 15 MPa can be prepared by SHS. SEM observations of fracture surface suggest the fracture mode is brittleness fracture, and the microstructures of the porous cermets are very homogenous.